Looks like everyone is getting their RH to around 65%. Just to clarify, right now I'm at 65 degrees and between 64%-65% humidity. Practically no swings in the humidity.
I've been trying to get the humidity down to 62% as I read many cubans, as well as Opus X's, do better at that level. Just some experimentation on my part. It may not be worth the hastle.
Absolutely no problems keeping the humidity at 64%-65%. No condensation whatsoever, which is unexpected considering everyone else's experience as my home is usually around 75-77 degrees and the humidor inside the cooler is pretty constant at 65 degrees. I'm not complaining.
I believe the inability to reduce the humidity may be coming from the internal thermostat of the wine cooler. My display is on the inside and when I put my hygrometer on the top shelf with wifey's wine, right under the cooler's display, the temperature was 71 degrees. When I felt the display box from the cooler, it was warm. My humidor is at the bottom of the cooler where it is a constant 65 degrees.
I guess its better than pre-cooler... 75 degrees with 68% humidity
You guys put alot of work into these coolerdors and they look great. Some of you may want to consider selling your trays. They look that good!
Originally posted by auton0my: M, The excessive condensation is usually the result of large differences in temp between the inside and outside of the fridge.
I had this problem as well and as soon as I put the internal temp up from 60 to 64 I had half as much condensation... and when I went to 67 it disappeared altogether.
I do get a few drops forming when we have unusually hot days - thus making the difference between inside and outside bigger... but it is no problem when it happens this infrequently and with very little moisture.
Having more beads or an oasis emitting moisture is not likely to increase condensation at the rate you are seeing... it is the thermoelectric unit producing it... not the internal RH conditions.
Thanks man - yes of course condensation is forming on the cold plate of the thermoelectric unit - I've had it set to 64 deg. F consistently since I set it up! Hopefully I'll be able to relieve it of some work once they switch our radiators from the boiler to the chiller in a week or so!
Right now I am pretty sure that I just need more circulation, and I received a set of aluminum mounting plates with ultra quiet low CFM fans, just waiting on the power supply.
Anyway, after lowering the set point on my Cigar Oasis from 70% I think that the 70% beads are doing a better job of keeping up with the runoff, as they are better able to re-evaporate the water they pick up. We'll see...
Cheers!
-aphexafx
"A common mistake that people make when trying to design something completely foolproof is to underestimate the ingenuity of complete fools." - Douglas Adams
Yea lowering it works alot better as you said. I started mine at 68% and it was reading my hygro at like 70%. So I took it the cigar oasis to 62% and now it the hygro reads 67% at the bottom, and 62% at the top. So Im thinking in the middle its probably somewhere around 65%. And I have the 70% heartfelt beads soaking at the runoff point as well. Hey Aphex, take some pics of the fans you install.
Posts: 190 | Location: U.S.A. | Registered: March 27, 2008
The fans pull air from the center and blow it up and down along the perimeter of the unit, completely mixing and evening out the humidity and temperature. They run constantly and are SILENT. I have to put my head inside and stick my ear within a few inches to even faintly hear them. The air flow is gentle and suitable for open singles in a tray.
Ok, after shutting the door in our horribly dry air I watch with glee as the RH climbs from 32% to 65% in a few minutes thanks mostly to the Cigar Oasis which shuts down at 60%. It then holds at 65% RH via the two pounds of beads. Sweet. I get some swing from 64% - 67% during cooling cycles but generally it is right on the dot at 65%.
The fans are fantastic and the wiring is completely out of the way, and the whole setup is modular and can be changed.
I'm still fighting condensation runoff, though! The crux is: How to get the run-off beads to put the run-off back into the air fast enough to be self-sustaining. Everyone seems to have mastered this except me, damn you all!
I've transferred some cigars to see how things go for a week or so, then pending anything strange or horrible, I'll commit to the blasted thing.
This message has been edited. Last edited by: aphexafx,
-aphexafx
"A common mistake that people make when trying to design something completely foolproof is to underestimate the ingenuity of complete fools." - Douglas Adams
I'm still fighting condensation runoff, though! The crux is: How to get the run-off beads to put the run-off back into the air fast enough to be self-sustaining. Everyone seems to have mastered this except me, damn you all!
Add another pound of beads ;] Again, looks real nice.
Sounds like the heating/cooling device is just working a bit too hard and creating too much run-off. Try moving the internal temperature a degree closer to room temperature.
Posts: 1556 | Location: Long Island, NY | Registered: July 28, 2007
very nice setup aphexafx... as Ozz said, move the insaide temp slightly higher (or tha ambien temp lower).. it will allow the thermoelectric unit to run a bit less, and therefore create less censensation...
how much difference in temp do you have between the ambient room temp, and the desired temp inside the cooler ??
Hey aphex looks like your still having issues withthe condensation. Liek they said set your temp to the highest setting. Also, If you have mostly boxes of cigars, i really think the cedar from the boxes will do alot to soak of the moisture. I have mine set at 66 degrees, and the temp in my room is anywhere from 70-75 degrees at any given time. That being said I have virtually no condensation buildup. But yea, your setup there is amazing. Looks like your cigars will have a great home.
Oh, and do you have the condensation runoff going directly into your beads? how much beads? and what is holding your beads? a picture of this would be great.
Posts: 190 | Location: U.S.A. | Registered: March 27, 2008
I have read about 90% of this thread and have a question? So does this electric wine cooler actually have a thermostat that stays around the 65* temp? Is it set like on the highest setting? Thanks Guys !
"The Most Important Part Of The Golf Swing Is The Golf Club"
Posts: 422 | Location: Iowa | Registered: December 20, 2007
It has a thermostat yes, and on the outside it has an electronic reading, where you can change temps anywhere from 44-66 degrees. and I have my hygrometer, that shows temp, and Rh on the inside.
Posts: 190 | Location: U.S.A. | Registered: March 27, 2008
Say you had this located like in your garage where the temp gets warm do you think it would maintain its 65-69* temp? I will be be good after this is answered Thanks
"The Most Important Part Of The Golf Swing Is The Golf Club"
Posts: 422 | Location: Iowa | Registered: December 20, 2007
The ambient temp(meaning the temp on the outside) has to be at or below 76 degrees for the wine cooler to read correctly. If the temp is higher than that, the temp that the wine cooler shows will be off. But if you have a hygro on the inside, it will give you the true temp.
Posts: 190 | Location: U.S.A. | Registered: March 27, 2008
I'm currently trying to get rid of the plastic smell on mine, I'm on day #4. I ended up getting a Vinotemp 28 bottle. Also got some spanish cedar in today, and expect some heartfelt beads in hopefully by friday. I'm not in much of a hurry since my humidor is currenlty reading 65-67 degrees. Cant wait to get it up and running though. I'm an impatient bastard
Posts: 65 | Location: NJ | Registered: May 18, 2007
So, I have decided to upgrade to the Vinotemp 28 Bottle Wine Cooler/Humi.. the one I have now Is completely full and overflowing(I have squeezed about 600 stogs in it). ugh, I guess I will put the old one (18 bottle) on craigslist.
Posts: 190 | Location: U.S.A. | Registered: March 27, 2008
i just picked up 2 days ago 2 coolers (28 bottles each) at a great bargain... also, I found some spanish cedar planks at a local lumber yard for cheap as well...
this week-end, I'll start the conversion... I'm just wondering, if the plastic smell will just go away once I place some cedar in the cooler, and some cigars as well.. I'm almost sure the smell from the cedar and cigar will overwhelm the plastic.. any opinions ??
I've been doing some reading on plastic out-gassing, and I don't think I want my cigars or even the cedar absorbing it. I'm on day number 6 and still get the smell if I close the door for 8 or so hours.
Apparently UV light helps with the out-gassing so next time its sunny outside the whole thing is going outside.
Just my 2 cents
Posts: 65 | Location: NJ | Registered: May 18, 2007
I had the plastic smell in mine, but I put the distilled-water soaked cedar in for for 24 hours(with my Cigar Oasis- and a box of baking soda), and it smelled of nothing but amazing cedar. My cigars were not touched by any smell. Aphex also had the plastic smell at first, but once he had got the cedar on his shelves, the smell was gone. Its not that hard to get the smell out.
Posts: 190 | Location: U.S.A. | Registered: March 27, 2008
I had the plastic smell in mine, but I put the distilled-water soaked cedar in for for 24 hours
I had a plastic smell in mine as well. I washed the inside down with baking soda and water and dried real well. The inside no longer smelled like plastic, but my temperature and controls are located inside at the top. That still generated a slight plastic smell when I put my nose up to it. After a few weeks of doing nothing, it went away on its own.
All good now. I still have my humi inside the cooler. Not nearly as nice as the mini cabinets you guys have created, but I'm finally down to 63% RH and 66 degrees with no condensation.
I may have to get a large hygrometer to put on the glass on the inside. The temp and RH is constant every time I check it, but I'd just like to be sure.
Everything is smoking wonderfully. Congratulations you guys. Your coolerdors look incredible!
One last thing... I've noticed after a few months in the wine cooler, most of my cigars that have been in a while shrink. All the bands are loose. It makes it easier removing them when I get down to them, and they all smoke perfectly, so I'm not concerned.
I'm not an expert in this and maybe I'm just over thinking this, I'm a mechanical engineer not a chemical/plastics engineer, but the thing I would be afraid of is that the smell is masked, but the cause of the smell is still there.
The smell is caused by a slow release of gas from the plastic and probably from whatever epoxies they used to secure the inner shell. You might be able to mask the smell with something that puts out a more powerful smell, but the gas might still be there. Unfortunetly I dont know what the effects of that gas is on the cigars, or my health.
Once the smell dies down and there is barely a hint of it after a couple of days of having the door shut, then I'll start putting in the cedar. At least I'll know the plastic/epoxies have been fully cured and stabilized.
Just thinking out loud.
Posts: 65 | Location: NJ | Registered: May 18, 2007
Originally posted by icall: One last thing... I've noticed after a few months in the wine cooler, most of my cigars that have been in a while shrink. All the bands are loose. It makes it easier removing them when I get down to them, and they all smoke perfectly, so I'm not concerned.
Yea that is normal. Its the cooler temps that will do that. And since its consistently at 66, you can expect a little shrinkage on the cigars.
As for the smell, again, I have had mine in for two months(and they are all in their cedar boxes), and my cigars are smoking better than they ever have. sitting at 66 temp, and 64 Rh.. I am so happy with my new humidor. The only bad part, Im out of room already. So time to upgrade to 28 or 32 bottle size.
Posts: 190 | Location: U.S.A. | Registered: March 27, 2008
